Well for starters I think many of us need to take a deep breath and understand the difference between a conclusion and a belief. One is based data and facts it is provable and repeatable, usually amassed from many data points, the other you believe despite evidence, good or bad, and if new facts are presented to you your belief doesn't change, I find beliefs to be dangerous and irrational. I think if you analyze the data as some previously have you'll find this to amount to a typo (maybe). let me be clear I am not calling Consumer Reports wrong or discrediting them. but if you look at all the individual ratings that presumably make up the over all rating and all but two of them are as high as they can get, how can the overall score be a 2 of 5 the underlying data doesn't support the conclusion.
I have read articles from both Edmunds and CR that editorialize some things about the 4Runner and maybe there is a bit of subjective weight on the final verdict? then it wouldn't be a typo, but it also wouldn't be data driven. they say thinks like it rides like a truck (so does my wife) well yeah it's body on frame. they say it gets poor gas mileage (guilty) they say it only has a 5 speed transmission (YUP) and whether or not you like that is up to you, and I might argue not data driven. It's a dinosaur, the infotainment system leaves much to be desired, my TRD OR has now power liftgate (FOR SHAME!) no blind spot thingy...what's that called. So yeah if you're looking at the broad landscape of mid size SUV's which I would imagine is CR's assignment the 4Runner leaves much to be desired. If you want a reliable midsized body on frame old school SUV, it's tough to find anything better, I didn't, if I had I'd be driving it instead.
